In the fourth quarter, after an interception on Tom Brady, White was face-down on the ground when Gronkowski came up behind him and jumped on him, shoving his shoulder and arm in the back of White’s head. Gronkowski was flagged, but not ejected for the play, while White was helped off the field and placed in the concussion protocol.

Gronkowski apologised for the hit after the game, but several Bills players said the hit was “dirty” and did not have a place in the game. Cameras caught Bill Belichick telling Bills coach Sean McDermott after the game that Gronkowski’s hit was “bull—-.”

In the NFL’s letter to Gronkowski, Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan wrote, “Your actions were not incidental, could have been avoided and placed the opposing player at risk of serious injury.”